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Short abstract:

Using my speculative instrument for a collective investigative practice called the Endocrine Disruption Tracker Tool, I examine the likely influence of hormonally active chemical agents on our emotions and the possible role of these emotions in opposing the chemical violence.

Long abstract:

In a world saturated with industrially manufactured chemicals, understanding their impact is crucial. This inquiry focuses on endocrine-disrupting chemicals, exploring how these pervasive substances influence our brain chemistry, shaping thoughts, feelings, and motivations. The Endocrine Disruption Tracker Tool (EDTT), a speculative instrument I designed, delves into the emotional effects of hormonally active chemicals. Modeled on a tool for diagnosing premenstrual symptoms, EDTT expands its scope to cover emotional symptoms stemming from the production and interplay of both hormones and hormone-disrupting chemicals. By employing this tool, I investigate the potential role of chemically disrupted emotions in resisting the systemic chemical violence that impairs life. Developed to navigate uncertainties caused by involuntary chemical exposure, EDTT aids in confronting the complexities of our chemically influenced lives. Drawing on insights from workshop participants and visual cues from my short film, “The Sadness of the Anthropocene,” this paper considers the possibility of our emotions being impacted by anthropogenic chemicals, including the prospect of affirming these emotions, as they are affected by hormonally active chemical agents. In our chemically altered world, EDTT provides a collective investigative approach to comprehend and respond to the intricate interplay between emotions and pervasive chemicals.